A vehicle crashed into a Mansfield fire engine in the early morning hours Wednesday while the truck was being used as a protective barrier for firefighters working an active crash scene on State Highway 360.
The incident occurred around 1:30 a.m. in the southbound lanes of the highway. The fire engine had been strategically positioned to shield crews already responding to a separate collision when the oncoming vehicle struck it.
Three firefighters were inside the engine at the time of the impact. All three were wearing seat belts and escaped without injury.
Following the collision, the crew immediately went to work on behalf of the driver who hit them. They forced open a jammed door on the striking vehicle and provided medical assistance to the driver, who was subsequently transported to a nearby hospital.
The Mansfield Fire Department issued a public statement emphasizing the dangers emergency personnel face on roadways every day. The department noted that roadway incidents rank among the most hazardous situations for first responders and that lane closures, while inconvenient, are a critical safety measure designed to protect both responders and the public they serve.
Officials are urging all drivers to slow down and move over when approaching emergency scenes and to put away any distractions behind the wheel. Texas law requires drivers to move over or reduce speed when passing emergency vehicles with active lights on the roadside.